Bloc says Liberals 'fear backlash' from removing religious exemptions in hate speech law

The Bloc Québécois leader is promising political consequences if the Liberals back down from accepting his party’s controversial amendment that would remove a religious exemption for hate speech from the Criminal Code.

Speaking to reporters Thursday on Parliament Hill, Yves-François Blanchet said his party had a deal with the minority government Liberals to alter a section of Bill C-9 — dubbed the Combatting Hate Act.

The Criminal Code currently includes an exemption for hate speech "if, in good faith, the person expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text."

According to Blanchet, the plan was to introduce the Bloc’s proposed amendment to strike that section during a clause-by-clause review at the House justice committee on Thursday afternoon — but it was abruptly cancelled.

Blanchet suggested Liberals have gotten cold feet after "would-be representatives of some groups came to the committee and sat there" when the committee met earlier in the week.

"The Liberals fear a backlash against them," he said Thursday. "And we fear that they might do the same next week."

Blanchet said the sovereignist party’s support for the bill depends on passing the religious exemption amendment. Secularism continues to be a hot issue in his home province.

"We have to stand up and we have to be clear if we do not want religious affairs to interfere in the affairs of the state," Blanchet told reporters.

"We invite them to go on with it next week. If not, there’s a huge political tag attached to this issue."

Losing Bloc support would risk the bill’s chances of survival, since the Conservatives argue C-9 is an attack on free speech.

The Opposition is also vehemently opposed to the Bloc proposal.

Chair says committee was in 'great deal of trouble'

Leader Pierre Poilievre posted on social media that the change would "criminalize sections of the Bible, Qur'an, Torah and other sacred texts."

Liberal MP James Maloney, who took over as justice committee chair this week after former chair Marc Miller was promoted to cabinet, said he felt he was acting in the "best interests" of committee members when he cancelled the meeting.

"It became very apparent to me quickly that the committee was having a great deal of trouble, emotions were running high and they didn't have a path forward to deal with some very important legislation," he said.

"I decided to cancel the meeting so the members could regroup to find a path forward."

A spokesperson for Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the Liberals "engage with all parties on how to move legislation forward, including the Bloc."

"We remain open to amendments that strengthen protections for communities across Canada in the face of rising hate," said Lola Dandybaeva.

Fraser introduced Bill C-9 earlier this fall, following though on a campaign promise to introduce laws criminalizing the intentional obstruction or intimidation of people at places of worship, schools and community centres.

It comes amid rising tensions during public protests across Canada, largely traced back to the Israel-Gaza war since Oct. 7, 2023.

The bill proposes new Criminal Code offences, including one that would make it a crime to intentionally promote hatred against identifiable groups in public using certain hate- or terrorism-related symbols.

Those symbols include ones used during the Holocaust — such as the swastika and SS lightning bolts — or symbols associated with the government's list of terrorist entities, which includes the Proud Boys, Hamas and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The legislation would also make hate-motivated crimes a specific offence.